The Power of Intention in Leadership

Let's face it: most of us, me included, wish we could sail straight through the storms. The turbulent seas. The shipwrecks. The fog. The disorientation. The rough waters and uncertain navigation. We want the smooth sailing, not the seasickness. But the reality is, you can't bypass the tempest and still discover new horizons.

The Deep Waters are the Classroom

I love the sailor's wisdom that "calm seas never made a skilled mariner," it reminds me that we can transform the deepest waters into opportunities for mastery and discovery. It feels wonderful to ride high tides with the wind at our back, celebrating progress and cruising joyfully. But the depths? That's where our true navigation skills develop. That's where resilience is forged in the pressure of the deep, adaptability blooms in shifting currents, and our deepest wisdom and greatest strengths emerge as we navigate treacherous waters and unexpected squalls.

The process of being tested against the elements—facing uncertainty, fear, loss, or confusion can feel frightening, and painful, but these challenges calibrate our internal compass. They expand our capacity to navigate life's complexities. They cultivate new capacities, helping us bring forth new parts of ourselves and new possibilities for our life. Sunny skies wouldn't feel as precious without storms, and reaching shore wouldn't feel as triumphant.

As mariners have long observed:

"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." – African Proverb

No Voyage Is Endless

When caught in a storm, it can feel like you're lost at sea forever. But it's just one passage. Perhaps even just a brief squall. You've weathered every challenging voyage so far—the evidence? You're still afloat. Still navigating and still charting new courses.

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails." - Dolly Parton

It's tempting to dwell on previous journeys or worry about waters ahead. But this moment—right now—is your only true position. That's why finding your bearings is essential.

When the voyage feels overwhelming, anchor yourself:

• Find your rhythm with the waves through intentional breathing.

• Be present. Steady yourself with moments of stillness and awareness.

• Take a walk in nature. Feel the wind in your face. Feel the grass on your feet.

• Listen to the messages of your body and your intuition.

• Reach out to others who can ground and resource you in your best self.

“Abandon Ship!” is Not an Option

We don't get to leap from the vessel and teleport to calmer waters. Even if you retreat below deck, the journey continues—ignoring the navigation chart doesn't change your course and could create even more challenges. As I recently told a fellow voyager, the only path through the storm is sailing onward.

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." - Alan Watts

That means setting sail despite uncertainty. Charting a course despite doubts. Raising anchor anyway. Whether facing high winds, navigating narrow straits, entering unfamiliar harbors, or weathering a squall—sail forward despite your fears. With time, your seafaring instincts develop. You become less shaken by rough waters and more adept at reading the currents. You're giving your internal navigator the experience needed to embrace the unpredictable nature of the open sea. That's the voyage of growth.

Gifts of Rough Seas

When you stop trying to skip the rough voyages, stand strong in the storms of life, and start navigating life’s waters with a determined heart…great gifts are bestowed:

• Resilience broadens as we embrace each new challenge

• Gratitude links us to the positive present and shines light on future possibilities

• Self-trust anchors our strength and reveals our greatest potentials

• Wisdom is seeded by life’s trials

• A Powerful Future is formed by your mindset and actions.

• Inner Strength arises from your self-discipline and your choices.

• New versions of you and your life arise as you get through each storm.

The Voyage Continues

Life isn't a collection of perfect postcards—it's a complete nautical journey. Every voyage, even the stormy passages or becalmed waters, shapes your skills as a navigator. Stop wishing for only fair winds. Feel every current. Experience every tide. Trust that the captain of your vessel (you, with guidance from the stars) understands the full course charted.

Because no matter how fierce the tempest becomes, your journey isn't complete. There's another horizon awaiting—and it just might lead to the most magnificent shores you've yet to discover.

"The dark does not destroy the light; it defines it. It's our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows."

- Brené Brown

When in the storm, remember…

1. Strength grows through challenge: the rough seas show us who we really are.

2. Focus on your intentions: Keep your eye on what you want, not just what is.

3. Choose faith over fear: One leads to possibility, the other to the predictable.

4. Rise to the challenge: Stay alert, seek the opportunities as they arise.

5. Rainbows follow the Storms: Potential is unleased by navigating through the tumultuous times.

“After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it. If you have wisdom, you will create it.”

―Shannon L. Alder